Hellenic Magical Consecration Theory

[RusticSage]

I have a personal magical technique that I've assembled through the various resources I've read over the years, and I'd like to share it with the magically inclined people of this forum. It's been a lot of study to find something that works for me, so it's something that I'm quite proud of. It has given me a lot of freedom to explore magic in a way that is both flexible, and consistent with my spirituality. I'm a Hellenic Polytheist, so I often find myself "in-between" a lot of different forms of esoteric practice when I end up discussing magic, so I'd like to show what has resulted from it.

Hellenic Magical Consecration Theory

What follows is a ritual consecration concept that I use to make a ritual space appropriately adjusted for the purposes of magical ritual. These techniques are to be used before and after the ritual in reverse order, and the value of these concepts is that they are an overlay for standard Hellenic ritual; in otherwords, the rest of the ritual, save for the inclusion of magical consecration, and a device of intent, are identical. This is invaluable to me, since the kinds of magic I do center on the Greek Gods, and don't involve the various Hermetic deities described in much of the PGM.

I. Circumabulation

For this step, there are a variety of things you can do. The standard method is to enter into the sacred space with the khernips bowl and circle around one's altar in a clockwise direction. Since many household altars are on tables or shelves up against a wall, a circle casting with a ritual implement is more practical - especially since the khernips bowl is often one of the ritual items placed on the altar in advance. For me, I find that the use of a consecrated ritual tool is ideal - both because it has a solely magical function, and because it can be completely personalized. It is my belief that any ritual tool, if genuinely used, will be effective.

With a ritual tool in hand, use a preferred gesture to create a magic circle, counter-clockwise around the ritual space, and recite the following statement during this movement:

I circle round this sacred space
Separating the divine from the disgrace
Let my words and deeds agree
As it is said, so must it be

If you prefer something shorter:
I circle round [the altar]
(Periérkhomai [ton bômón])

II. Elemental Attunement

The following is a version of a ritual from PGM XIII. 824-841, dubbed "The Ritual of the Heptagram". I first discovered it through Stephen Flowers Hermetic Magic. It's an energetic attunement operation that uses the 7 Greek vowels to symbolize cosmological aspects. Alpha, Epsilon, Eta, and Iota symbolize the elements and directions of Air/East (Sanguine), Fire/South (Choleric), Earth/West (Melancholic), and Water/North (Phlegmatic). Omicron represents the physical earth or "ground", Upsilon represents the surrounding air or "sky", and Omega represents "the heavens".

Perform the following operation, intoning the sound of each letter in turn:

PGM XIII.824-841

The instruction:

1. Speaking to the rising sun, stretching out your right hand to the left and your left hand likewise to the left, say "A" (Alpha)
2. To the north, putting for-ward only your right fist, say "E" (Epsilon)
3. Then to the west, extending both hands in front [of you], say "E" (Eta)
4. To the south [holding] both (hands) on your stomach, say, "I" (Iota)
5. To The Earth, bending over, touching the ends of your toes, say "0" (Omicron)
6. Looking into The Air, having your hand on your heart, say "Y" (Upsilon)
7. Looking into The Sky having both hands on your head, say "0" (Omega)

Notes on The Heptagram Ritual:
Since the tool used in the previous circumambulation step will vary from person to person, I'd like to list some of my personal suggestions on how to adapt the somatic components to the use of particular tools. If you're left handed, these can be adjusted accordingly.

A. Dagger or Wand

1. Stretch your left arm to the left, and point the dagger/wand
in your right hand across your body to the left
2. Transitioning from step 1, stab the tool to the north,
and drop your left arm to the side
3. Bring the extended arm to the west, joining it with your left hand,
for a two-hand dagger/wand pose
4. Transition to the South, turn the tool around, and motion it towards your belly,
as if you are stabbing it
5. Turn the tool out, bend down, and stab at the earth below you
6. Turn the tool upward, bring it to your chest, and look up
7. While looking up, stab the tool skyward

B. Staff or Sword

1. In the east, with the tool in you left hand, and your right arm across your body,
push it forward and return
2. Switching to your right hand, with your left arm at your side,
push it forward in the north and return
3. Transitioning to the west, grab the tool with both hands,
pushing it forward and back again
4. In the south, with the tool still in both hands, set the downward end into the ground, focusing on your center
5. Lean the tool forward and gently bow in a downward direction
6. Lift the tool upward, bring it closer to your body, and look up
7. While still looking upward, lift the tool towards the sky

If you so choose, you may also recite something in the vein of PGM XIII. 842-846

"I call on you, eternal and unbegotten, who are one, who alone hold together the whole creation of all things, whom none understands, whom the gods worship, I whose name not even the gods can utter. Inspire from your exhalation, O Nameless One, he/she who is under you; accomplish for me this task"

When the elemental attunement is complete, proceed to the altar, performing the standard khernips purification, lighting of the hestia candle, statement of purpose, and ritual offerings - making sure to change the focus of the ritual to that of a magical intent, and to including a magical praxis within the context of the prayers and hymn section of your perferred Hellenic ritual format.

When the primary ritual is completed, do The Ritual of The Heptagram in reverse, starting with the gestures of Omega and ending with the gestures of Alpha (it'll take some practice to get it right, whatever variation you use). Once that is complete, circumabulate using your preferred ritual tool or gesture, in a clockwise direction - making sure to remove your libations and lustral water to be emptied outside, as well as any ritual items or magical devices that need further actions to complete.

For the cessation of the magic circle, I prefer this statement:

I circle round this sacred space
Returning all to its given place
Let my words and deeds agree
As it is said, so must it be

Note:

There are many many variations of the concepts I've described here, including several with a decidedly more Hermetic or Neoplatonic orientation. The purpose of this format is so that it can be used outside of the context of a specific magical school or mystery tradition, and can thusly be used with exclusively Hellenic symbolism. That being said, there are several elements within The Heptagram Ritual described in The Greek Magical Papyri that do hint at the aforementioned schools. It is my belief that these concepts are fluid enough to be approached without those specific mystical trappings, as is the manner in which I use them.